Jack had a birthday party with friends for the first time ever, and I was soooo excited that he wanted a pirate themed party. It was tons of fun to put together! The kids made parrot crafts, played an X Marks the Spot version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, had cannonball fights (using socks), played Brigg Tag, and ate cake. It was tons of fun.
Here are Jack's birthday interview results:
FAVORITES
color- orange
toy - Legos
movie - How to Train Your Dragon
animal - tigers
song - Let It Go
food - muffins
place to go - Alyse's house
season - winter
best friend - Mason and Alyse
What do you like to do outside? jump on the trampoline
What do you like to sleep with? Snuggle Pup
What do you want to be when you grow up? a dad, just a dad
What do you do really well? clean up
Three words that describe you: a boy ...
One food you really dislike: pot pie
If you had one wish, what would it be? that it would snow here (California)
What makes you laugh? tooting - that makes me really laugh
What are you afraid of? those ghosts
What do you like to do with your family? play Legos
What do you love to learn about? animals
Gemma had her second birthday on January 14th. The little lady spent the morning at Noah's house while I took Jack to the doctor's. When I picked her up, we went to the park. We had macaroni and cheese for dinner, which she loved and the other kids hated. Oh well, birthday kid gets to pick! She loved her princess cake, and was pretty darn excited when she realized that that electronic thingamajig she'd just unwrapped was a bubble machine for the backyard!
I didn't try interviewing her, so the answers to these questions are my best guesses, but that's probably more accurate than what Gemma would have told me as as I asked her anyway!
FAVORITES
color-pink
toy -dolls, baby, Barbie, or big, all dubbed "Elsa"
animal - puppies - she always asks to "touch it" but never dares really do it
song - Crazy Frog and Halloween songs (Wee Sing for Halloween CD)
food - macaroni and cheese - she just calls it pasta
place to go - the park
best friend - Hazel, followed by Jack, then Grace and Noah
What do you like to do outside? ride bikes, swing
What do you like to sleep with? a cozy blanket
What makes you laugh? being chased and tickled
What are you afraid of? the vacuum
Gemma talks up a storm, and has lately been big on tattling: "Mom said, Mom said, I can't hold you!" she shrieks to Hazel while I make dinner.
The kids have been skyping a lot with my parents. Hazel and Jack both tell me they wish we lived in Utah.
We've had some truly fabulous weather lately, so we've been spending a lot of time outside. Wintertime is when I realize why living in California is so expensive!
Jack's been having a lot of bad dreams lately. When he does, I hear him cry out, then a couple footsteps, then silence. In the morning, I find him sleeping in Hazel's bed. She is a good, nurturing, loving sister in the middle of the night.
The last two Saturdays we've spent the day at the beach in Half Moon Bay. The first Saturday we were there during high tide. There wasn't much space to play on without having to keep an eye on the waves and dash out of their way when they came crashing. Gemma was scared, so she and I spent most of the time near the entrance steps, digging in the sand and just trying to get her to feel comfortable.
Jack stayed with us for the first part, but eventually warmed up enough to get close to the waves as long as he stayed by Todd's side. Todd would pick Jack up every time the waves came in. Hazel - she was right in the thick of things, climbing rocks, searching for shells, making angels in the sand.
When we went back this last Saturday, it was low tide, and a whole different ballgame. All three kids were happy to explore the tide pools, touching sea cucumbers and anemones and collecting shells. Gemma, Jack, and I mostly stuck together, while Todd and Hazel went a lot further down the beach, on a quest to find something great. And they did! A big, beautiful abalone shell. Which honest Hazel took to the patrolling ranger and asked if she could take it home. Which resulted in some very disappointed kids and a big pile of shells left behind in the sand. (I think the reason they couldn't take shells from this beach is because it's a protected area for seals.)
Todd was annoyed, and Hazel was heartbroken, and Jack said he just wanted to go home, and Gemma was mad that I made her stop digging in the sand and get in the van. Somehow I was able to encourage the gang to try to discover a new beach, and we drove and peeked around for forty minutes before we found one that wasn't crowded or closed off.
We had to walk about a quarter mile down a paved road to get to it, but we all agreed it was absolutely worth the trek. When we got there, we saw a mile long stretch of beach, some great crashing waves and a nice tide pool offering, some caves to check out, and only a handful of other people, who were all so far away we didn't have to think about them at all. It was paradise! We stayed for a couple more hours, collected as many shells as we could carry, explored to our heart's content, and can't wait to go back. And no, I am not telling you where it was! Family secret, right here! :) I was happy at Moss Beach, I really was, but there was something completely next-level and soul-satifsying about this place. I was recharged there. I'm totally in love.
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